Just a note about me:
I remember the days in the past as I have been fishing for over sixty years and fly fishing that long also and can remember I fit the model of the past polluters. I now am trying to help undo what my generation has done to the environment. Please read the following article and give it some thought.
Jack aka walkthewalk
An article from Federaton of Fly Fishers Conservation Coordinator, Leah Elwell, in the Oct/Nov. edition of Fly Fish America.
"For many fly anglers invasive species are old hat. You know about whirling disease in the West, dydimo in the East and, quake and zebra mussels in the Midwest.This familiarity at times breeds a complacency, when really it needs to spark action.When an infestation of aphids descends on your yard, typically an all out battle ensues. The same vigilance-but perhaps different tactics-is neede when it comes to aquatic invasive species.Regardless of what aquatic species we are talking about, the mantra is inspect/clean/dry.This means inspecting your boots and boats for mud and plants and removing them. Clean your gear with fresh, clean water-the hot, high pressure wash at a car wash works wonders. Finally, dry your gear in the sun. Many, but not all invasive species are killed with good old sunshine.
Often people ask,"What about bleach or Formula 409 to clean my gear." Well, the real truth of the matter is that not all invasive species can be killed with one type of chemical. There could be an invasive algae, parasite, snail, or plant clinging to your stuff, and with this variety of creatures there is no "silver bullet". The practice of inspect/clean/dry works, and will help reduce the spread and introduction of unwanted invaders.
Becoming a "clean angler" is akin to recycling. Both require an understanding of the world we live in, and mean that you, as an individual, are an active participant in the process. In the early 60's there was an ad campaignthat tackled the attitudes and problems leading to litter and pollution problems in the U.S. This sparked interest in Americans, and for the most part changed the way we deal with trash-we don't just pitch it out the window of a moving car any longer. We put garbage in trash receotacles, and bottles, aluminum cans and paper into recycling bins.These simple actions tell us that we care about the world around us, and when it caomes to being a "clean angler",similarly simple actions can be underaken to show that we care about our water resources.
If you are not convinced that simple measures of cleaning your gear are worthwhile, here are a few examples of what can happen when invasive species go awry. The impact of invasive species can affect angling in several different ways-lost fishing opportunities, changes to aquatic systems, and economic burden.
When an invasive species is introduced to a new location, the invader can take over the available habitat. Some invaders can cover the surface of a lake completely. Recently a public access site to an Indiana lake was closed following the discovery of invasive species, resulting in lost fishing opportunities.
Invaders can often outcompete native species, in many cases creating rivers or lakes that can no longer support game fish. An explosion of invasive species can alsochange the flow or use of water. On a river in South Dakota where the invasive algae dydimo has been a problem, not only has there been a loss of fishable brown trout, but irrigation intakes have been cogged with thick mats of this nasty "rock snot".
It has been estimated that invasive species cause over $120 billion dollars worth of damage every year. This hefty sum goes toward the costs of controlling and eradicating the roughly 50,000 alien species that have been introduced to the U.S. The annual cost of controlling zebra and quake mussels alone is estimated at $1 billion.
It is clear that the costs we incur from invasive species are greater than the dollars we spend to control them, particularly if we lose access to our favorite fisheries. All of the waters that we depend on to support our fishing and boating activities are potentially threatened by invasive species that can devastate natural habitats. When you understand that we have everything to lose by doing nothing, doing something as simple as regularly cleaning our gear becomes a no-brainer.
Help be a part of the solution by visiting the Center for Aquatic Nuisance Species at
www.stopans.org , or take the Clean Angler pledge at
www.cleanangler.org
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